28/05/09
Tir Chonaill éirígí activist Micheál Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig has described as “deplorable” the daubing of an election poster at Crolly with a racist slogan and has called on politicians and political parties in the region to unreservedly condemn the incident and those who carried it out.
The slogan was daubed on the election poster of Donegal local election candidate Stella Oladapo. Ms Oladapo is a Nigerian native who has lived in the county for many years. MacGiolla Easbuig said: “This is an appalling incident. Those who defaced this candidates poster with their racist comments are to be condemned. For our part, éirígí believe that racism is never justifiable and must always be challenged wherever it rears its ugly head. As socialists and republicans we believe there is no place in Irish society for this type of race hatred.”He added: “The entire community throughout Donegal, especially out here in the west of the county, must unite in our opposition to such incidents. As Irish people, and particularly as Donegal people who have seen such high levels of emigration to foreign shores over the years, we have ourselves often been on the receiving end of racism in Britain and elsewhere throughout the world. That racism was unjustified and unacceptable then just as this racism against this election candidate is unjustified and unacceptable now.” MacGiolla Easbuig concluded: “There is no place for people within our society who espouse racism and try to spread race hate. I am calling on the entire community to unite in our condemnation of this incident and those who carried it out. In particular it is vitally important that all politicians and political parties in the region publicly condemn this incident in an unequivocal manner. Those responsible for this incident must be left in no doubt that their views do not represent the views of the people of Donegal and that their actions wont be tolerated.”
